The Rosary Explained

The Joyful Mysteries

(Said on Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays of Advent, and Sundays from Epiphany until Lent)

First Joyful Mystery - The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary
I Desire the Love Of Humility
Think of...     The humility of the Blessed Virgin when the Angel Gabriel greeted her with these words: "Hail full of grace".  Luke 1:26

 

Second Joyful Mystery - The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
I Desire Charity Toward My Neighbor
Think of...    Mary's charity in visiting her cousin Elizabeth and remaining with her for three months before the birth of John the Baptist.  Luke 1:39

 

Third Joyful Mystery - The Birth of Jesus
I Desire the Love of God
Think of...     The poverty, so lovingly accepted by Mary when she placed the Infant Jesus, our God and Redeemer, in a manger in the stable of Bethlehem.  Luke 2:1

Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
I Desire a Spirit of Sacrifice
Think of...     Mary's obedience to the law of God in presenting the Child Jesus in the Temple. Luke 2:22

 

Fifth Joyful Mystery - Finding Jesus in the Temple
I desire Zeal For The Glory Of God
Think of...      The deep sorrow with which Mary sought the Child Jesus for three days, and the joy with which she found Him in the midst of the Teachers of the Temple.  Luke 2:41

The Luminous Mysteries

(Said on Thursdays throughout the year)

First Luminous Mystery - The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:17

 

The Second Luminous Mystery - The Wedding at Cana, Christ Manifested
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.  John 2:11

 

The Third Luminous Mystery - the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."   Mark 1:15

 

The Fourth Luminous Mystery - The Transfiguration of Jesus
And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
Matthew 17:2

 

The Fifth Luminous Mystery - The Last Supper, the Holy Eucharist
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins". Matthew 26:26

The Sorrowful Mysteries

(Said on Tuesdays, Fridays, and daily from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday)

First Sorrowful Mystery - Agony of Jesus in the Garden
I Desire True Repentance for My Sins
Think of...    Our Lord Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani, suffering a bitter agony for our sins.   Matthew 26:36

 

Second Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar
I Desire a Spirit of Mortification
Think of...    The cruel scourging at the pillar that our Lord suffered; the heavy blows that tore His flesh.  Matthew 27:26

 

Third Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus is Crowned With Thorns
I Desire Moral Courage.
Think of...    The crown of sharp thorns that was forced upon our Lord's Head and the patience with which He endured the pain for our sins.   Matthew 27:27

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - Jesus Carries His Cross
I Desire the Virtue of Patience
Think of...    The heavy Cross, so willingly carried by our Lord, and ask Him to help you to carry your crosses without complaint.  Matthew 27:32

 

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery - The Crucifixion of Jesus
I Desire the Grace of Final Perseverance
Think of...      The love which filled Christ's Sacred Heart during His three hours' agony on the Cross, and ask Him to be with you at the hour of death.  Matthew 27:33

The Glorious Mysteries

(Said on Wednesdays, and Sundays throughout the year)

First Glorious Mystery - The Resurrection of Jesus
I Desire a Strong Faith
Think of...    Christ's glorious triumph when, on the third day after His death, He arose from the tomb and for forty days appeared to His Blessed Mother and to His disciples.   John 20:1

Second Glorious Mystery - The Ascension of Jesus
I Desire the Virtue of Hope
Think of...    The Ascension of Jesus Christ, forty days after His glorious Resurrection, in the presence of Mary and His disciples.  Luke 24:36

 

Third Glorious Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
I Desire Zeal for the Glory of God
Think of...The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles, under the form of tongues of fire, in fulfillment of Christ's promise. Acts 2:1

 

Fourth Glorious Mystery - The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
I Desire the Grace of a Holy Death
Think of...     The glorious Assumption of Mary into Heaven, when she was united with her Divine Son.

 

Fifth Glorious Mystery - The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
I Desire a Greater Love for the Blessed Virgin Mary
Think of...    The glorious crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven by her Divine Son, to the great joy of all the Saints.

Rosary Novenas

     Religious devotion, public or private, for the duration of nine days to gain special graces, is called a Novena. Those who perform it with a lively hope of having their request granted, and with perfect faith and resignation if it be refused, may be assured that Christ will grant some grace or blessing. This requires an understanding that in His infinite wisdom and mercy, He may refuse the particular favour which is requested.

     Novenas originated in imitation of the Apostles who were gathered together in prayer for nine days from the time of Our Lord's Ascension (to Heaven) until Pentecost Sunday (the descent of the Holy Spirit).

     This practice of saying the Rosary nine times in the form of the Rosary Novena in petition or thanksgiving, is another way of heeding Our Lady's request to Pray the Rosary.

      The 54 Day Novena Devotion which originated in 1884 at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei, consists of the daily recitation of five decades of the Rosary (one complete Mystery: Joyful, Sorrowful, or Glorious) for twenty-seven days in petition and five decades for twenty-seven additional days in thanksgiving. You will actually be making three Novenas in petition for a particular favor and three Novenas in thanksgiving for a particular favour.

     1st day say  the 5 Joyful Mysteries
     2nd day say the 5 Luminous Mysteries
     3rd day say the  5 Sorrowful Mysteries
     4th day say the  5 Glorious Mysteries
     5th day begin again the 5 Joyful Mysteries, etc.

The Family Rosary

The Family That Prays Together... Stays Together.

     The family Rosary is the Rosary recited aloud together, by as many of the family and their friends as can be present. Any family (two or more people) may say the Family Rosary in any suitable place and at any time.

     A leader says aloud the first part of each prayer; a second person or group of persons answers aloud the second part of the prayer.

     To begin the Family Rosary, all hold the Crucifix of their Rosary in the right hand and make the Sign of the Cross.

     The leader begins the Apostles' Creed and proceeds through the rest of the Rosary as shown on Page 2. The leader announces the Mystery before each decade. Five decades (one complete Mystery: Joyful, Sorrowful, or Glorious) should be recited each day.

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The Five First Saturdays

Mary's Great Promise at Fatima -

     The Five First Saturdays are intended to honor and to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for all the blasphemes and ingratitude of men.

     This devotion and the wonderful promises connected with it were revealed by the Blessed Virgin at Fatima, a small village in Portugal. Our lady appeared to three children there in 1917, and one of the little girls, Lucy, tells us that Our Lady said:

     I promise to help at the hour of death, with the graces needed for salvation, whoever on the First Saturday of five consecutive months shall:

1. Confess and Receive Communion.
2. Recite five decades of the Rosary (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, or Glorious Mysteries)
3. Keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.